Tribals conduct yoga themed protest for school in Anakapalle district

Visakhapatnam: Students and their parents of four remote hilltop hamlets – Kotha Losingi, Patha Losingi, Pedagaruvu and Pithrigadda – in Losingi revenue village of Rolugunta mandal, Anakapalle district, staged a unique yoga-based protest demanding the establishment of a permanent school and an Anganwadi centre. Around 312 tribal residents live in these villages, including nearly 60 children studying between Classes 1 and 5.

Villagers said children have to travel about 3 km to attend school at Y B Patnam, while pregnant women and lactating mothers must cover nearly 13 km to access Anganwadi services in Rajannapeta, often under difficult conditions.They said that officials, including the district educational officer, MPDO and MRO, had visited the area in June 2025 and assured them that a school would be recommended to the government. Although two alternative schools were later introduced, villagers alleged that the appointment of teachers from foothill areas and the absence of locally available educators have affected children’s education. They demanded the appointment of qualified local youth and the establishment of a permanent school.

To highlight their long-pending demands, villagers organised the innovative protest under the Yoga Andhra initiative, with participation from parents, students and CPM leaders.